Hanegbi said the police are giving the Wakf one week to agree to reopen the site, but, failing that, the police would reopen the compound to non-Muslims.
“This week will be the test to see if it is the last week of waiting. We expect that by the weekend an agreement will be reached,” Hanegbi said. “But after that…we will act unilaterally to restore the status quo that existed at the site for over 30 years.”
Fearing Palestinian violence, police barred non-Muslims from entering the Temple Mount since then-Knesset member Ariel Sharon’s controversial visit in September 2000. Aside from a brief reopening last month, the 33 months since then have been the longest period the Mount has been closed to Jews and Christians since the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. Non-Muslim visitors were allowed to enter, but not conduct public prayer at the site.